Initially emerging as a few isolated cases, the phenomenon of drug testing artists quickly became a hot topic, reflecting the increasing pressure celebrities face in the age of booming social media.
From Ngoc Son and Tuan Hung to Duy Manh: artists simultaneously and publicly reveal the results of their drug tests.
This wave began when singer Ngoc Son live-streamed his drug test in a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. He explained that he decided to make the entire procedure public to respond to rumors circulating online regarding his use of illicit substances.
After a negative test, Ngoc Son reaffirmed his desire to preserve his honor and the image he has built over many years of artistic career. The singer also made headlines by declaring that he would give away his entire fortune if someone could prove that he had used drugs or alcohol.
Shortly after, singer Tuan Hung also published a video where we see him being tested at home. In this video, he performs the test himself using a test strip and publicly announces a negative result. Tuan Hung said he wanted to put an end to the unfounded rumors that had recently been circulating on social media.
Similarly, singer Duy Mạnh also shared footage of his drug test and stated that he was willing to undergo further testing if necessary in order to prevent misinformation from affecting his life and work.
For her part, actress Viet Trinh reacted differently. Asked by certain Internet users to submit to a drug screening test as part of a “trend”, she declared having refused, only under pressure from social networks.
“Artists live in a microscopic society. HAS”
Regarding this phenomenon, Dr. Vu Viet Anh, expert in school psychology, education and human development consultant, believes that it is no longer a personal story about a few artists, but clearly reflects the changes in the structure of social beliefs, crowd psychology and image pressure in the digital age.
According to Dr. Vu Viet Anh, there are many reasons why information related to artists and banned substances always attracts special attention from the public.
First of all, today’s celebrities are not only active in the artistic field, but are also perceived as “social models.” Each of their statements, images or actions is closely scrutinized by the public.
“When an artist is suspected of using stimulants, what concerns the public is not only the legal aspect, but also the feeling that trust has been shaken,” he noted.
Experts say the public often has higher moral expectations of celebrities, especially artists who have considerable influence on young people. As a result, any information relating to drug testing quickly becomes a topic of heated debate on social media.
Furthermore, Dr. Vu Viet Anh believes that the online community currently has a tendency to “decipher idols.” In behavioral psychology, there is a phenomenon called the “image collapse effect”: the public admires celebrities while being curious to discover the hidden aspects behind their glamorous image.
When questions arise about an artist, instinctive curiosity promotes the rapid spread of topics such as “right or wrong,” “who’s right, who’s wrong,” and “is it true or not?” HAS”. In particular, the algorithms of current digital platforms often favor content that is controversial or has a strong emotional charge, which further increases the likelihood of a dazzling spread of information.
“The digital confidence crisis” and celebrity push for transparency.
According to Dr Vu Viet Anh, modern society is entering a phase of “digital confidence crisis”, where the public is more skeptical than confident. This phenomenon is seen as a consequence of the era of false information, manipulated content and emotional media.
“When a rumor circulates, many people tend to believe it first and then verify it. “It almost forces artists to react quickly if they don’t want their image to be seriously tarnished,” he said.
From a socio-psychological perspective, the phenomenon of many artists proactively getting tested and publicly disclosing their results also reflects the immense pressure in the modern entertainment industry.
According to experts, today’s artists are no longer just artists, but also “living brands.” A negative rumor, even unverified, can have a direct impact on advertising contracts, services, brands and public trust.
Therefore, proactive verification and public disclosure of results are seen as a form of “image crisis management” aimed at protecting personal reputation.
Dr Vu Viet Anh also believes that the defensive mentality of celebrities is strongly accentuated with the rapid development of social networks. A few hours of silence are enough to fuel public speculation in all directions.
“Artists today live in an environment where sometimes even silence is considered a mistake,” he observed.
Furthermore, the evolution of relations between the public and celebrities is also worthy of interest. Whereas previously the public often idolized celebrities one-sidedly, they now demand more transparency, clarity and social responsibility from artists.
Artists are forced to seek public approval.
Commenting on this phenomenon, media expert Nguyen Ngoc Long believes that the wave of artists voluntarily submitting to drug tests does not constitute “progress” for the entertainment world, but rather reflects the reality of growing public pressure and a decline in trust between the public and celebrities.
According to him, in the past, it was enough to prove one’s innocence at the request of the authorities. However, today, under pressure from social networks, many artists find themselves suspects until they provide proof of their innocence. Therefore, a negative test is not only a guarantee of transparency, but also a way for celebrities to protect themselves from public skepticism.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Long said he understood the situation of many artists who, although they take their profession seriously, are subject to general pressure from the entertainment sector following scandals linked to the consumption of illicit substances. According to him, the difficulty lies in the almost total passivity of current artists: silence arouses suspicion, and any explanation is perceived as an attempt to dodge. Finally, they are forced to resort to the results of medical analyzes to prove their integrity and their compliance with the law.
“It’s a big blow to artists’ self-esteem, but many still have to accept it for fear of being boycotted, losing contracts or seeing the image they have built for years ruined because of unverified rumors,” he said.
According to media experts, the rapid publication of test results is seen by many as an effective way of calming public opinion. However, from a media perspective, this is more of a knee-jerk reaction than a long-term strategy.
He said when artists rush to get tested to prove their innocence, it unwittingly draws them into a “game” fueled by rumors and forces them to seek public approval. However, in principle, the burden of proof should fall on the party making the accusation.
“The trial of social media and the risk of normalizing negative information. HAS”
Mr Nguyen Ngoc Long also warned that public disclosure of the test results could set an unfortunate precedent in the entertainment sector. If an artist is tested on his own to respond to rumors, other artists could subsequently be forced to do the same as soon as they are suspected of contamination on social networks.
“This could easily lead to social networks gradually creating invisible pressure, forcing artists to publicly disclose their private lives and personal medical data to prove their innocence,” he said.
According to media experts, even if an artist publicly posts a negative test result, it will not necessarily put an end to suspicion. Some internet users might continue to question the authenticity of the result, the timing of the test, or speculate in various ways.
He argued that the main consequence would be to prolong the media crisis. Instead of letting rumors fade away without evidence, publicly announcing test results sometimes only fuels the debate and keeps the controversy going.
According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Long, an artist’s long-term reputation must be built on his lifestyle, his artistic works and his respect for the law, rather than relying solely on the result of a test presented during a crisis.
Referring to the public’s constant demand that artists submit to drug tests after each scandal, Long said this reflects the disappointment and loss of trust that has accumulated following numerous controversial incidents in the entertainment industry.
“When the public sees too many formerly beloved figures involved in scandals, they begin to develop more skepticism and want to see concrete proof instead of just explanations,†he observed.
At the same time, Dr. Vu Viet Anh argues that the worrying aspect is not an isolated incident, but rather the risk that the excessive amount of negative information that appears creates an effect of “normalization of behaviors”.
In media psychology, repeated exposure to content can lead to a gradual decline in social alertness. If young people receive too much negative information without supervision, some may develop the erroneous belief that this phenomenon is common in the entertainment world.
“C’est très inquiétant”, a souligné l’expert.
According to him, when too many negative incidents occur in quick succession, society easily falls into skepticism towards celebrities in general. This indirectly affects the very image of artists who take their profession seriously.
Another consequence is the phenomenon of “judgment by social media”. In many cases, public opinion draws too hasty conclusions based on rumors, edited videos or unverified information, which leads to insults and causes serious harm to those affected.
“A civilized society must make a clear distinction between the right to information and pushing the emotions of the crowd beyond acceptable limits,” said Dr Vu Viet Anh.
According to experts, the most important thing today is to rebuild a culture of critical information. The public must learn to verify information before sharing it, artists must be fully aware of their social responsibility and the media must play a guiding role rather than giving in to trends or audience pressure.
“A healthy society is not a society without scandals, but a society that knows how to process information rationally, with humanity and a sense of community responsibility,” said Dr. Vu Viet Anh.
Source : https://danviet.vn/lan-song-sao-viet-cong-khai-test-ma-tuy-minh-bach-hay-ap-luc-phai-tu-chung-minh-vo-toi-d1429576.html
